Box Score BUFFALO, N.Y. – Despite a pair of goals from sophomore Leo Herrmann, the Franciscan men's soccer team fell to host Medaille, 4-2, Sunday afternoon.
The Barons (4-8-1, 1-4 AMCC) themselves down 3-0 at halftime but continued to play as a team and found offensive momentum early in the second half. After a Medaille shot hit the post at 56:51, the Barons collected the ball and systematically moved it down the field. The Barons unfortunately turned the ball over in the box, but Herrmann wrangled the turnover behind the Maverick keeper and scored his 15th goal of the season on an empty net. The Maverick lead was cut to 3-1 with just over 30 minutes to play.
Medaille (9-3-1, 3-0-1 AMCC) pushed its lead back to three goals when Junior Geegba scored his ninth goal of the season off a pass from Edisson Salazar at the 77:07 mark.
"They were a little better in the midfield and judging the ball in the wind to win balls in the air and the first ball today," remarked head coach Ward Rogers. "They were getting a little bit better at anticipating the ball in the first half and getting to the ball first but we had three freshman start for us today and we did well to adjust."
"Christopher Lann did a really nice job starting in his first game and Leo James moved up from the defense to the midfield and did a great job for the Barons today."
The Barons continued to pepper the Medaille goal but could not find the back of the net until Herrmann scored his second of the day and 16th of the season with 24 seconds left in the game. The Baron defense cleared out a corner kick and sent the ball down field. Herrmann carried the ball from the near to the far side across the top of the box and shot it past the Maverick goalie.
Herrmann's second goal of the game was not only his team and league leading 16th of the season, but a new season-best goal and point total for the sophomore. On the year, Herrmann now has 37 points (16g, 5a) which breaks the program's single-season point and goal record, records he set last season.
Franciscan found itself down early as the Mavericks scored three goals in a 10 minute span beginning at 29:31. "The second half was definitely much more even," remarked coach Rogers. "We scored two goals to their one and we recovered a little bit in the second. They are a very good team and we had to take advantage of the opportunities we had earlier."
Medaille outshot the Barons 23-11 and held a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.
"The defense played well as a whole today. Cuyler Ledyard had another really great game for us and Pat Canavan had a great game," commented Coach Rogers. "Tim McNamara came off the bench and filled it for Pat and played really well today."
Senior Edward Huber made seven saves in the net while his Maverick counterpart, Brian Arcara stopped three balls in the 90 minutes. "Eddie had another really nice game for us. Medaille is always a really strong program. They have a few junior that are strong players and they keep filling in good players around them. Eddie did a good job today facing them."
Franciscan will take a shot break from conference action as the Barons travel to Geneva on Wednesday for a 7:00 pm start.
